Work Healthy - Asthma, eczema and your career

Photographer

Risk level:

A good eye

Photographers can choose different paths such as advertising, journalism, fashion or art. They depict everything through their pictures. Patience is perhaps the most tested of a photographer's skills, but in the darkroom strong developing agents can also be tough on the skin and the breathing.

Vilka är riskerna?

Developing agents irritate the skin and can cause contact allergy. Frequent handwashing is hard on the skin as it dries it out and can therefore increase the risk of hand eczema. The strong developing agents can also result in breathing difficulties if you are sensitive to them.

Prevention and avoidance

In the darkroom, try to avoid direct contact with the developing agents. Use gloves whenever possible and rub in hand cream after washing your hands. Good ventilation always helps, and is particularly important if you have asthma.

The toughest time will be during your training, which will include practising every stage of the developing process, so remember to protect yourself as well as possible. If you already have eczema or asthma, think about choosing an area that doesn't involve as much developing, such as press photography. Digital cameras are also being used more and more by professional photographers, and avoid the developing process altogether.

Want to know more?

If you are thinking about going into photography but are wondering about the risk of allergy and eczema, get in touch with your school healthcare service or careers advisor.

» Back